HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Today was Emma's first birthday!  And it was a great day all around.  Except for our loved ones who weren't feeling well.  We had to adjust the numbers for Emma's birthday dinner due to some illnesses throughout the family.  They were missed, but we are sure there will be more celebrations in the near future.

Emma is very close to walking, and loved showing off with her new "cat" friend.

Yes, she has been raised to "read her cards first". 

Time to open presents.

No caption needed ... yet that is a caption - hmmmmm?

Her new bear sounds an awful lot like her cousin Luke.  Thanks
uncle Bob, Aunt Elizabeth, Luke and Jack!

She KNOWS she is not supposed to be touching the candle. 
But it is her birthday.

Mom prepared a nice breakfast, though Emma now
insists on feeding herself.  
feed herself.

Emma in her new outfit dad brought back from France.  Thanks to Michel
for getting me to the mall and back while in Lille.  And of course the much
needed interpreting. 

Dad and Emma (in case you didn't know)

Mom and Emma discussing the rest of the day.

Getting ready to greet her guests at our local Thai restaurant.

A deep conversation with Grandpa on the current state
of affairs in Egypt.  A lot of CNN lately. 

She is trying to claim BOTH birthday cakes - hers and Fernando's.
They share the same birthday.

"Stay away from my cake."

Emma playing with her cousin Norah, who she
finally had a chance to meet today.

Good night everyone!

Surprise!

Bet you didn't expect another post this soon :)!  Hope you all enjoy.  We had a great weekend, though can't say we enjoyed the Bears game very much.  Emma has been doing great, and has been much better since the last tooth came through. 

Things are looking up, daycare is getting better (though still in the "adjustment period"), face and rash seem to be getting better, she is pulling herself up and close to walking, and she is known to chat up a storm on occassion (with lots of "mommies" thrown in). 

Hi everyone!  Welcome back.

Emma is going over to Buttercup and standing on her own.
Should be fun when winter subsides - how much longer?

Thought you might enjoy this clip from one of Emma's baths.  For the record they are not always filled with belly laughs, but what an awesome sound.

Now that the hair is coming in, she LOVES brushing it.

Getting more stable, and fashionable, by the day.

Yes, she is on the verge of walking - yikes. 

Hanging out with her "Bear" friends, getting ready for the game.

]

January

Yes, I know, it has been a couple of weeks since we last posted!  I've been told, I've heard your concerns, your cries and your pleas.  So here you go (especially you Pamela :)).

A lot has been happening.  In the last couple of weeks Emma has welcomed in two more teeth for a total of four.  It is such a joyous, druel-filled process.  She has gone straight to race-crawling, and probably on the verge of walking (which she loves to do with some assistance). 

Emma started daycare full time last week which coincided with the week mom was out of town (coincidence? - you decide :)).  The transition has been tough on her, and probably tougher on us, but with each day we are making progress.  Her grandparents got to spend a lot of quality time helping out dad, and she had a very nice visit from her cousin Alex in California.

So things are moving along.  The last few days, since she welcomed in her most recent tooth, she has been sleeping, and eating better, and hopefully has turned a corner on her nagging rash. 

Emma cheered the Bears onto a win on Sunday from Peggy's - our local Irish bar!  But was crushed by the defeat of the Patriots (though she has rebounded nicely).  And Sunday evening she is rumoured to have uttered her first words ... "Daddy your the best"!  OK, so it was actually "mammamama" or some facsimile thereof - you can decide by the video posted later.  I assure you that you will guess what her mother thinks she said. 

So here you go.  Some pics from the last couple of weeks.  Enjoy, we have been ...

First day of school (aka Daycare)

"Yeah me!"

Still playing peek-a-boo - she is becoming a pro.
In the video below, we may have her first words - you decide ...

Emma starting her day at the "Wall".
She cracks herself up.

Welcoming in a new day.

Hanging out with her friends.

And yes, she is training for a speed crawling competition in March.

Ending 2010

The holiday season is finally winding down, and it is almost time to get back to work.  It has been a very busy couple of weeks.  Emma was finally able to meet her grandparents, aunt and great aunt from Rhode Island.  It is the time of year to focus on family and reorient ourselves to what is important.  And boy does she have that affect!  Here are some pics and some video since Christmas. 

Enjoy and we'll hopefully have some more up next week.  Our best wishes to everyone for all the support and well wishes, not only in 2010, but for the last five years of our wait for Emma.  We wish you all a wonderful 2011 and look forward to Emma meeting more of her family (in every sense of the term).

"Are you STILL taking pictures dad?"

Emma and the "Sound of Music".  She didn't get through the whole thing, but I suspect she will
grow to be a fan.  It was a LOT of fun watching her enjoy this so we had to share ...

Guess where Joe's brother lives?  A future cheerleader?

"Dad are we done yet?"

Emma meeting Grandma, Grandpa V and Aunt Marianne in person. 

Emma getting lots of love an attention ...

Hanging with her cousins Madison and Ryan

Emma and Mom

Her last bottle for 2010.  Moms was more red in color.

Emma and Nicholas discussing the previous evening.

Just chillin in the New Year ...